military trailers

[Lang]

Derek,

I still think the unit is an oxygen generator. There does not appear to be sufficient pumping and particularly storage capacity for a simple air compressor.

I do not know what the Italian aircraft had in them but I think you will find not a lot of allied aircraft had actuating air bottles in them. The most common system was an accumulator (a sophisticated beach ball principle) which was compressed by the hydraulic oil and retained the line pressure for instantaneous use to save delays in pump operation in normal service.

Some aircraft might have been lucky enough to retain sufficient pressure in the accumulator for an emergency extension (no good if the lines were shot away) but I think most were just gravity free-fall drop down. Of course aircraft with screw-jack operation don't come into this.

Caravan and boat water pumps have this same accumulator deal for instant pressure.

For an aircraft with an emergency air bottle I think the water traps in a normal compressor system would be more than sufficient for drying purposes. An aircraft with an all-air system (normally just flaps and brakes - a number of aircraft had air starters as well - unusually undercarriage) is continuously pumping air and would have water traps built in.

If all the air bottle was used for was one emergency extension I don't think it would matter if it was pure water. Black steel is not used for hydraulic rams, they are either chromed or stainless and water is not a big deal for short periods. A system flush just takes a couple of cycles.

You might be right but I vote breathing oxygen generator.

Lang